They traveled from France to Norway to support Ånderdalen National Park's conservation efforts, mapping biodiversity and restoring nature along hiking trails. Work hard, play hard could have been the week's motto! Now it’s time to share what these inspiring travelers accomplished together.

Gabin, Clovis, Morgan, Clarisse, Arthur and Pat are moving a wooden board on a trail that crosses a creek.

They are 14 and 15 years old, from middle school Fénelon Notre Dame, in La Rochelle, France. They could have traveled by plane and spent a week hiking through Northern Norway’s fjords and mountains. But these teens chose a different path. Committed to reducing their carbon footprint, they traveled the 8,000 km round trip by train and bus, avoiding over 15 tons of CO₂ emissions.

Upon arrival, they set out to give back to nature in Ånderdalen National Park. Like the 20,000 visitors who came last summer, they hiked, but with a purpose, following a mission carefully planned by the Ånderdalen National Park manager and Rissa Citizen Science.

First day in Ånderdalen National Park, getting familiar with the area.

A heartfelt welcome from Ånderdalen National Park manager

Visitor numbers in Ånderdalen National Park have surged from 2,000 in 2010 to nearly 20,000 by summer 2024. This rise in popularity is putting pressure on the landscape, especially fragile areas not built to withstand such heavy foot traffic. Soil erosion has become a growing concern for the National Park board and manager. With limited staff and resources, the challenge is significant.

Mapping wildlife presents another major challenge, especially given that the National Park has only one permanent staff member. There is a clear lack of data about the species that inhabit the area, highlighting a significant knowledge gap.

So when Rissa Citizen Science proposed this initiative to the Board, it was warmly received. Park manager Ingve Birkeland personally welcomed the volunteers, shared his insights, and actively participated in the fieldwork, offering guidance, supervision, and encouragement while applauding everyone’s enthusiasm and efforts.

Ingve Birkeland with the volunteers in Ånderdalen, June 2025.

Mapping birds

It was still too early in the season to map plants and insects (the snow was relatively abundant above100 meters of elevation) and we focus our efforts on birds, who in contrast were very active singing. None of the teens were particularly skilled identifying birds songs, but they learned fast!

The Redshank is listed as Near Threatened on Norway's Red List. It was observed in the lowlands and at Åndervatnet.

Ditch repaired

Near the southern entrance of Ånderdalen National Park, a pipe had previously been installed beneath the main trail where it crosses a creek. The excavator created a large ditch and compacted the slopes, making it difficult for the vegetation to grow. It left a visible and long-lasting scar on the landscape.

Restoring this area was our first mission. We laid fiber mats, added moss and sphagnum gathered nearby, and planted fast-growing willows to help accelerate natural revegetation.

Restauration of a ditch near the south of entrance of the National Park.

200 meters of trail restored

Some hikers prefer trails that blend naturally into the landscape. However, in the most accessible areas of Ånderdalen National Park, the high volume of visitors causes significant wear, forcing the park to artificialize some paths to protect the environment and guide foot traffic. At low altitudes, coastal Norway is like a giant sponge, with water everywhere. A narrow 50 cm trail can quickly become a 50-meter-wide muddy corridor, as hikers walk around wet sections, gradually widening the damage.

In total, we helped restore 200 meters of heavily eroded trail. To prevent further deterioration, we laid fiber mats and secured them with wooden pegs. We then filled large buckets with wooden chips, which we spread along the trail, creating a stable walking surface. To keep the chips in place, we shaped edges from peat bricks gathered nearby.

Restoration of hiking trails using fiber mats and woodchips.

Stacking firewood

One smaller tasks we took on was unloading firewood bags left for visitors and stacking the logs neatly in the designated sheds. What would have taken one person a few hours was done in no time by a team of motivated volunteers. We completed this task twice: once by Åndervatnet and once near the park entrance.

Before and after emptying bags and stacking the logs in the shed near Åndervatnet.

Alternative trail

We marked a new trail that will eventually replace the current one, which passes through vulnerable peat bogs and other sensitive wetlands. The route had previously been marked with temporary stakes, and together we carefully evaluated the ideal placement for each new pole, ensuring that every one was clearly visible from the last in both directions. We hammered 37 trail poles into the ground.

Morgan and Alban marking a new trail in Ånderdalen National Park in June 2025.

Mingling on National Park Day

June 5th marked National Park Day, and park manager Ingve Birkeland invited around a hundred students and their teachers from local schools to take part in the celebration. The French visitors presented their project, each taking a turn with the microphone to share a few words about their unusual journey. They had worked hard to prepare their presentation, and although speaking in front of such a large audience, and in English, was clearly daunting, they did an excellent job!

The French teens presenting their project to a crowd of about a hundred Norwegians.

After this introduction, the participants were divided into groups, which spent about 30 minutes in successive stations, learning about the park and contributing to some trail restoration. When every group had completed the circuit, we enjoyed each other's company around campfires, grilling food over the flames, playing games and chatting.

Many were surprised that the French group chose to travel by train and bus, especially since flying is faster and more affordable. Some couldn’t quite understand why they came all the way to restore nature rather than enjoying a more relaxing vacation. Those questions often sparked engaging and thoughtful conversations!

French-Norwegian cooperation on National Park Day.

Work hard, play hard!

But the week wasn’t just about heavy lifting and muddy hands. With the midnight sun stretching the days, there was plenty of time to relax and have fun too! More about that in a next post!

Kalina and Morgan entering Ånderdalen National Park for the first time in May 2025.